LOUISVILLE, Ky.—As its various brands struggle in the U.S. to grow same-restaurant sales, Yum Brands [NYSE:YUM] now has to cope with another issue. News has leaked that the Yum's China spinoff has stalled.

IRVINE, Calif.—Taco Bell is testing the waters of fast casual with a prototype it calls Taco Bell Cantina. The new concept will open in Chicago on September 22 and another will open in San Francisco this month. The open kitchen concept will serve alcohol, not have a drive-thru and aims to push digital technology in the ordering process.

In an announcement adding to what may be a snowballing trend in restaurant chains, pushed by consumer demand, Yum! Brands' Taco Bell and Pizza Hut plan to do away with artificial flavors and colors in most of their menu items.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Yum Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) announced that Taco Bell's CEO Greg Creed will become its chief executive officer on the first day of 2015. Yum's sitting chairman and chief executive officer David C. Novak will then become executive chairman.

There's not only a missing customer, but drive-thru speed has slowed at McDonald's. Photo by Thomas Hawk

OAK BROOK, Ill. – McDonald's Corporation last week announced disappointing results for its first quarter ending March 31, 2014. McDonald's same restaurant sales in the United States decreased 1.7 percent.

Taco Bell saw a quantum marketing shift in 2012 from its food-as-fuel "think outside the bun" to its now "Live mas" tagline. Ad Age says the fifty-year old fast food test kitchen has launched a major marketing hit with its latest menu items and campaign.